title: Allergies and risk of pancreatic cancer: a pooled analysis from the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium.
abstract: In order to quantify the risk of pancreatic cancer associated with history of any allergy and specific allergies, to investigate differences in the association with risk according to age, gender, smoking status, or body mass index, and to study the influence of age at onset, we pooled data from 10 case-control studies. In total, there were 3,567 cases and 9,145 controls. Study-specific odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, and body mass index. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by using the Cochran Q statistic. Study-specific odds ratios were pooled by using a random-effects model. The odds ratio for any allergy was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62, 1.00) with heterogeneity among studies (P < 0.001). Heterogeneity was attributable to one study; with that study excluded, the pooled odds ratio was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.84) (Pheterogeneity = 0.23). Hay fever (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.96) and allergy to animals (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.94) were related to lower risk, while there was no statistically significant association with other allergies or asthma. There were no major differences among subgroups defined by age, gender, smoking status, or body mass index. Older age at onset of allergies was slightly more protective than earlier age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 307 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. olsons@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Sara H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Meier
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jaya M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Satagopan
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maisonneuve
authors.forename: Debra T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lucenteforte
authors.forename: Kristin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borgida
authors.forename: Paige M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: H Bas
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bueno-de-Mesquita
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotterchio
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duell
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Fontham
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallinger
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: Bu-Tian
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lowenfels
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luckett
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Gloria M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seminara
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strayer
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: allergic rhinitis; case-control studies; hypersensitivity; pancreatic neoplasms